CONTROVERSIAL plans to close libraries in Crosby and Litherland are set to be approved this week.

Cash-strapped Sefton council is poised to confirm the closure of facilities in Ainsdale, Aintree, Birkdale, Churchtown, Crosby, Litherland and Orrell.

Cabinet members will be asked today to approve a timetable that would see Litherland library close in October, with Crosby’s Carnegie library mothballed from December.

The council hopes to save £400,000 each year through the closures.

A report to councillors tells how a proposal to redevelop the Crosby Civic Hall site could still be submitted in the near future, which, if approved, would mean a new library being built on the current site.

If this was to happen, the report states that “during the redevelopment period it would be necessary for the council to retain College Road (Carnegie) temporarily for Crosby until the new facility was available.”

The report goes on to say that, if the new development failed to proceed, the council would be left with “potentially significant infrastructure costs in maintaining and operating the library from the Civic Hall site”.

Also revealed in the report are details of the potential job losses as a result of the library closures, with up to 40 staff expected to be made redundant by the end of the year.

Between 16 and 19 full-time posts would be lost, but because the bulk of library staff are part-time that would put up to 40 people at risk of being made unemployed.

Council officer Robina Critchley, said: “As there is a significant number of staff who work part-time, until the recruitment process is undertaken it is impossible to know exactly how many people will be subject to potential redundancy, but it is estimated to be between 25 and 40 people.”

Despite the report’s findings, the council has not completely closed the door on the potential for community campaign groups to take over the running of the libraries, but officials warned that once each library was closed and stock relocated it would be difficult for them to reopen.

Professor Tom Solomon, of The Friends of Carnegie Library, said: “We have formed a steering committee and are looking at all the possible options to support the library.”

Following the report’s findings, the group have announced a show of support outside the College Road library this Saturday at 12pm.

Professor Solomon added: “We are hoping people will bring their parents, grannies, grandads, aunts, uncles, friends, acquaintances, and as many people as possible as well as placards, posters, balloons, and anything else you can lay your hands on.”

Under-fire councillors say they intend to increase opening hours at the remaining six libraries in the borough, with other options set to be passed today including abolishing the 80p charge for book reservations.